An attempt to help explain the mysteries and magic that are part and parcel of 'probation'.

Saturday, 7 December 2013

Latest From Napo HQ 5

This is the latest e-mail from Napo HQ to all members and received yesterday:-

Dear Member

We acknowledge that times are incredibly stressful for you all and that it is easy to feel despondent. We feel the anger and frustration that’s out there very keenly at Napo HQ but there are some very positive signs coming as a result of our campaign and there are actions which we can take individually and collectively to strengthen our position.

The Justice Select Committee

Napo has submitted two evidence documents to the Committee - see them in this Napo News article. These give a good grounding of the issues for you to use locally in your campaigns and are a useful resource. The timetable for implementing TR slips again and again. It was evident from this week’s JSC that the government are concerned about the growing chorus of criticism of the reckless timetable. The two ministers were falling over themselves to say that there would be a lengthy “dry run” of the two organisations within the public sector. This is a radical departure for the MoJ who thought they could have everything done and dusted within a couple of months. Members should take heart from this. We just have to keep up the pressure by pressing our public safety arguments. The timetable for the tendering process has slipped by two months and the cases will not be divided until well after April 2014. We have it on good authority that the JSC has amassed its own evidence about the risks in the project. Upon robust challenges, the ministers clearly struggled - see Napo News article here.

The Staff Split

Upon strict instructions by the MoJ, Trusts are now implementing timetables for the transfer of staff into the CRCs and NPS. We have sent out guidance about what to do should you receive letters either about automatic assignment or expressing an interest. It is vital that you return the forms but follow the guidance and register a grievance at effectively being forced to agree to take a giant leap into the unknown. Any member of staff has the right to register a grievance and this will provide you with individual protection in the future. Remember, a Trust cannot legally refuse to accept it. Also remember that this does not affect your right of appeal. Get your concerns down on paper and make sure there is a record. The Secretary of State has written a somewhat patronising and untrue personal letter thanking staff for being compliant in the staff assignment process. This is merely the grim output of the MoJ public relations department and to be expected- ignore it, we will be responding formally. We have also written to Chris Grayling to request that all staff should be individually consulted over the staff split rather than being put through the potentially discriminatory staff assignment process. You can view a copy of this letter here - IL 208-13 Chris Grayling - TR Consultation 05.12.13

Negotiations – the real facts

At the Justice Select Committee, Chris Grayling claimed that negotiations had broken down because of the Unions. Again, this is just part of the pantomime of government. The MoJ scuppered the final day of negotiations because of the pre-conditions that they brought to the table at the 11th hour and also because they are not prepared to offer continuity of service beyond the initial transfer. They have said the door may be open to further negotiation and we will take part in that process but the MoJ will have to play by the rules this time. We have registered our dispute with ACAS (the conciliation service) and there are some promising signs that we can rein in some of the process. Meanwhile please see the formal statement that Napo has had written into the minutes of the TR Consultative Forum which provides our view of events - Statement to TRCF 211113

At present we are in a war of attrition as we try to save our Service and of course that’s exhausting. The government, and some Trusts, are disingenuously spinning this, as in: “The poor staff are really stressed so let’s hurry up and privatise and make redundancies because then at least they know where they are.” Being flung out of the frying pan into the fire for your own good? This is no way to treat our members. If we could say more here about our campaign over the next couple of weeks, we would. But we can’t because the MoJ read our emails and it’s all about timing. It may not feel like it right now but there are some still real reasons for hope as the TR timetable flounders hopelessly.

31 comments:

As a NAPO member I am now pretty fed up of all the posturing. Time and time again we hear that much is going on but we can not be told what it actually is. Fine, but where are the results of all this confidential dealing ? Our recent branch meeting was told that there was a confidential session at the NEC again, so when do members get information ? Remember unions ARE a democracy ! OK, I understand that we have to respond to Grayling's duplicitous behaviour but not by mirroring it surely ? I asked my branch rep a question this week, having received my letter, but she could not get a response from NAPO HQ - we both agreed the guidance was not clear on the particular point. Unison however had addressed the issue clearly so I ended up relying on their advice. I accept Chivalry Rd staff are busy but local officers are doing their probation job as well. Why can't NAPO ensure the office is staffed by an official at all times perhaps on a duty rota ? I feel very removed from the top NAPO bods and suggest they stop and consider their strategy and behaviour.

Just preparing my grievance now as South Yorkshires letters are be sent to members at work, rather than in the post.

I'm glad to hear that negotiations may be back on the table, but "Ram it through Grayling" should never have taken them off.

Also, it's good to hear that we have registered our dispute with ACAS (the conciliation service) and that there are some promising signs that we can rein in some of the TR process.

Its also encouraging that at the Justice Select Committee the ministers were falling over themselves to say that there would be a lengthy dry run, as the "ram it through policy" without thinking things through is not good good for anybody.

Reading between the lines I'm glad that the Unions have some cards up their sleeves, I think that even though we are a small organisation we are punching above our weight.

Agree that NAPO have done exceptionally well against the bullies like Grayling and Wright. Part of the tactic of Gov power is to confuse and disorientate aimed at reducing resistance. The more Gov do this and change the rules the more it means we are achieving small but signifanct gains.ANARCHIST PO

There seems to be a suggestion that someone at NOMS checks this site on a regular basis in order to gauge the mood of the service and while I know this is accurate the following is also likely to be true:The current omnishambles is as a result of Mr Graylings tilt at the premiership unfortunately he does not know that his stint at Work and Pensions and now Justice is leaving him increasingly isolated at No 10-he is being told on a daily basis that his timetable is being met and so it is unfortunately splitting a service on paper is a lot easier than the reality...two months ago it was mooted as I understand that a 'change' at justice was on the cards, yet this has not happened-daily raised voices are heard at NOMS HQ as they try and turn a silk purse back into a pigs ear, despite the positive spin that is emerging I understand that the whole things is hanging by a thread and could snap at any time....NAPO is on the right track with its legal challenge and the time is fast approaching when the law of diminishing returns kicks in...a new year scandal on the cards at justice.....new year is just around the corner......

"'The price of this financial crisis is being borne by people who absolutely did not cause it" "Now is the period when the cost is being paid, I'm surprised that the degree of public anger has not been greater than it has."

Apologies as it's off topic - but this is amazing from yesterday in the Times - anyone got a subscription?

"Prisons invite 3,000 staff they paid off to rejoin in new jobs.

The Prison Service is recruiting 1,000 more officers to help to tackle a staffing crisis in jails even though more than 3,000 officers have left in the past two years, many with generous payoffs.

Many of those who left are to be offered the new jobs.

In another sign of serious staff shortages, the National Offender Management Service is to offer six-month contracts to some former prison officers to help overcome shortages on the wings of London prisons."

The Prison Service is recruiting 1,000 more officers to help to tackle a staffing crisis in jails even though more than 3,000 officers have left in the past two years, many with generous payoffs.

Many of those who left are to be offered the new jobs.

In another sign of serious staff shortages, the National Offender Management Service is to offer six-month contracts to some former prison officers to help overcome shortages on the wings of London prisons.

Jails in England and Wales are so short of staff that the scheme under which officers are moved around the country to plug gaps at particular prisons has been expanded.

Staff sent to other jails are to be allowed to claim subsistence allowances beyond the normal 30-day limit “due to the exceptional operational need”, The Times has been told.

Prison officers expressed astonishment at the debacle which has left the service in the embarrassing position of having to recruit so many officers within months of revealing that thousands had departed, including many with compensation of up to 21 months’ pay.

Steve Gillan, the general secretary of the Prison Officers’ Association, said: “They have let too many people go and staffing levels are now dangerously low. They have cut too much, too quickly. They have let all the experienced staff go and that is why they now are to approach those experienced staff to bring them back. It is an extraordinary position to be in.

“I think they will struggle to recruit in London. They are so desperate they are offering contracts to ex-staff”.

In the two years to September 3,210 prison officers left jails, including many under a voluntary early-departure scheme in which staff could receive up to a maximum of 21 months’ pay. The Prison Service said it did not have figures for the number of officers who took advantage of the scheme but separate figures show that 3,330 staff left under the scheme.

Prison officers’ leaders said the vast majority of staff who left did so on the early-departure scheme and that some were based at jails which closed as the prison estate was restructured.

A sign that the Prison Service has blundered is disclosed in evidence to the 2013 Prison Service Pay Review Body, which said that “it expected low volumes of recruitment to continue throughout the rest of the current spending review period”.

Asked whether recruiting 1,000 was “low volume”, the Prison Service said national recruitment levels were low. Figures show that in the year to March 2012, just 235 officers were hired.

A spokeswoman for the Prison Service said: “The Prison Service is aiming to recruit around 1,000 prison officers over the next 12 months as it returns to normal recruitment levels. It will be drawing the attention of ex-staff to the recruitment campaign.

“The service will have a temporary shortfall of staff in London and will offer six-month, fixed-term contracts to about 70 selected former prison officers, subject to strict Civil Service rules around employing those who have left through retirement, resignation or the early-departures scheme.”

Former prison officers will be re-hired on a lower salary and pay higher pension contributions. They would have to pay back any compensation received on a pro-rata basis although it will be reduced if they are employed on a lower salary than before. For example. a former officer who left with ten months’ pay and rejoined within three months of leaving would have to re-pay seven months’ money.

Yup in my view that is part of the master plan, get rid of the expensive overheads ( permanent staff) then take back as sessional ( eg report writers) or temporary contracts ( redundant staff desperate for work replacing more expensive permanent roles). Much cheaper for the posh boys to employ....... continuity for the offender ? Forget it, they have....

Already done at the time of the industrial action I'm afraid. He retweeted the link to the petition to his 7 million followers, unfortunately to little effect! He also replied that the government should "give it [probation's work] to RAPt", with a wink I should add!

I hear CG is furious that within his TR team, there is a mole...well it doesn't take a genius to work that one out - love the comment.. "raised voices are heard at NOMS HQ as they try and turn a silk purse back into a pigs ear". Another easy one - STOP TRYING!

Because CG has his mitts firmly on this project WHEN it fails , it will be clearly his problem, with regular meetings with his civil servants he has a clear view on what is happening and any comment to JSC to the contrary is disingenuous.

Chris Grayling, the shadow home secretary claimed thousands of pounds to renovate a flat in central London – bought with a mortgage funded at taxpayers’ expense, even though his constituency home is less than 17 miles from the House of Commons. Chris Grayling, the Shadow Home Secretary, has his constituency in Surrey Mr Grayling, who represents Epsom and Ewell, lives in a large house in Ashtead, Surrey, but also claims expenses for a flat in Pimlico, near the House of Commons. Mr Grayling also owns other buy-to-let flats and now has four properties within the M25......

Today's post states the MoJ are refusing to guarantee continuity of service after the initial transfer. My letter (Derbyshire) says "...pay, annual leave, flexible working arrangements, working hours, expenses and pensions are all protected into the future. The MoJ has protected them until June 2015 and is ensuring that there will be no compulsory redundancies until that date at the earliest." Is this true? If not where is the evidence so I can use it in my grievance?.......

I think the point is that when the CRC's are taken over by their new owners, all bets are off. As with the London Serco UPW contract, it will be entirely up to the new management what terms and conditions will prevail, how large the workforce needs to be, job roles, methods of working etc etc

Looking for a silver lining, I have a colleague on a temporary contract that expires end of March 14. Will he be guaranteed a job in the new structure - would be CRC but from a temp contract with 3 months to run, to guaranteed employment til June 15, at least one person might be happy.

MP Chris Grayling1. What power have you got?2. Where did you get it from?3. In whose interest do you exercise it?4. To whom are you accountable?5. How can we get rid of you?

Only democracy gives us that right, and that is why I am not gagged. That is why no-one in power likes democracy - and that is why every generation must struggle to win it and keep it. Including you and me - here and now.

Chris Grayling should know better that if this goes ahead, there will be whistle-blowers in every department leaking out information to the media regarding issues. Staff unlikley to take these to managers as they will often cover up. Whistle-blowers are protected under the law when management refuse to acknowledge danger and risk to public.ANARCHIST PO

By the very nature of this whole TR shambles it could be argued that management have refused to acknowledge the risks to the public, therefore a precedent has been set in going straight to the Press with any issues. I pretty much guarantee that any reporter would love to get hold of a story which involves G4S/Serco etc AND a risk to the public! If Grayling want's to fight dirty he has to realise that the other side can cause as much damage fir both him and his MP chums' favourite stocks and shares! It only takes 3-4 leaked stories for the pressure on both Grayling and the PM to become untenable; one will have to fall on their sword! I consider it our moral duty to ensure that the Press and public are aware if any problems!!!

Also, please don't forget to take your 10+ sick days that you are allowed each year. Take them before April as after this we are in new contract territory and previous sickness cannot be applied to any new contract. I can assure you all, 100%, that I will be taking 2 weeks, fully paid (!!!!), sickness leave before April of next year.

That's an excellent point mentioned. What if we all went out on sick on the last two weeks before the change over. Makes me wonder how the service would cope. I wonder whether this would draw in public attention?Grayling - If you are reading this how do like this!!!! Take that to the Justice Select Committee.

It's My Blog

Welcome to the wonderful world of probation! These are the personal thoughts of an ordinary probation officer struggling to come to terms with constant change, whilst trying to do a useful job for society. Sadly, change is so often obviously not progress. I am fully aware that my views do not represent official policy of government, my Service or possibly anyone else - but hey - it's my blog!

ATV 1962 Windsor Davies

About Me

A grumpy, disillusioned, CQSW trained, generic, main grade probation officer based in a small English town. All my contemporaries have either left, retired or been promoted. Newer colleagues simply don't understand the journey I've been on from advise, assist and befriend. (If there is anyone of similar name in the NAPO handbook, it's not me).